Longoria 'surprised and upset' by Rays' trade of Forsythe

Monday's trade of Logan Forsythe appears to have upset the face of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Star third baseman Evan Longoria reacted to news of the deal that sent Forsythe to the Los Angeles Dodgers for top pitching prospect Jose De Leon with displeasure. Longoria appeared to get along with the second baseman, and his reaction bluntly displayed his unhappiness with the transaction.

"I'm surprised and upset at losing a player, clubhouse presence, and friend like Logan," Longoria told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "He's a rare player."

Longoria is one of the few players to be given a big-money extension by the small-market Rays. In 2012, the three-time All-Star put his signature on a six-year, $100-million deal that begins this season and will keep him in a Rays uniform through 2022.

Yet despite his commitment to the team in the midst of stadium troubles and minuscule payrolls, Longoria has had to sit through the Rays trading multiple star players just as their salaries are about to rise.

Among the names dealt away from Tampa Bay ahead of free agency are David Price and James Shields - both teammates of Longoria's on the Rays' 2008 AL championship club - along with Drew Smyly, who was sent to Seattle earlier this month, and utility man Ben Zobrist.

Longoria wasn't the only Rays star who appeared to be upset over the Forsythe deal. Although starter Chris Archer - the subject of trade rumors himself throughout the winter - welcomed De Leon to the team, he expressed his sadness at losing one of his favorite teammates.

Forsythe is set to make $5.75 million in 2017, with an $8.5-million club option for 2018.

Now that his salary is off the books, Tampa Bay is set to enter 2017 with a league-low payroll sitting slightly over $45 million, though arbitration settlements will likely push that up somewhat. Tampa Bay's 2016 year-end payroll of $81,283,926 was 29th in the sport, per Cot's Contracts.